Hi,
My name is Mike and I've been boating/fishing Lake Erie since I was little, and had 4 different boats since I was 16.
1. 1974 Sea Ray 190
2. 1993 Bayliner 2655
3. 1995 Bayliner 2859
4. 1985 Silverton 34C (Current)
I use the boat for perch and walleye fishing, as well as some occasional overnight trips. I'd like to get into a trawler or sailboat so I can do some more of this with a little less money ($4 a gallon at .9 mpg is pretty steep). The problem is I don't know much about either type of boat, specifically.
I value seakeeping ability (who doesn't though) of a boat very much given the kind of conditions we get on Lake Erie in a hurry. My current boat lets me down some in this respect being pretty tender and requiring much more attention than any of my other boats in a following sea, even as small as 2 feet. I know every boat has its quirks, but this one has tendencies to be a little more picky than anything else I've had. I can go slow with it since I pretty much have to, but I'd rather have something more stable and fuel efficient if I'm doing 10 miles an hour. The other boats I had were much easier to handle in my opinion, I'd say mostly because of the weight being biased to the rear with sterndrives.
That being said, I don't need to get places too fast either which is why I'm looking at other boat styles. The real problem is that I don't know how to get into sailing a 32 or so foot boat without any help from somebody with experience, so a trawler might be easier for me. I generally sleep 4 people on the boat, and do fishing in anything around 4 foot waves. Yes, they are pretty big being as short period and steep as they are, but I've managed.
I have $40-50k to spend, and am looking for a little guidance from some people with experience in this area so I can maybe have a better chance of finding what I'm looking for.
Thanks for any help!
My name is Mike and I've been boating/fishing Lake Erie since I was little, and had 4 different boats since I was 16.
1. 1974 Sea Ray 190
2. 1993 Bayliner 2655
3. 1995 Bayliner 2859
4. 1985 Silverton 34C (Current)
I use the boat for perch and walleye fishing, as well as some occasional overnight trips. I'd like to get into a trawler or sailboat so I can do some more of this with a little less money ($4 a gallon at .9 mpg is pretty steep). The problem is I don't know much about either type of boat, specifically.
I value seakeeping ability (who doesn't though) of a boat very much given the kind of conditions we get on Lake Erie in a hurry. My current boat lets me down some in this respect being pretty tender and requiring much more attention than any of my other boats in a following sea, even as small as 2 feet. I know every boat has its quirks, but this one has tendencies to be a little more picky than anything else I've had. I can go slow with it since I pretty much have to, but I'd rather have something more stable and fuel efficient if I'm doing 10 miles an hour. The other boats I had were much easier to handle in my opinion, I'd say mostly because of the weight being biased to the rear with sterndrives.
That being said, I don't need to get places too fast either which is why I'm looking at other boat styles. The real problem is that I don't know how to get into sailing a 32 or so foot boat without any help from somebody with experience, so a trawler might be easier for me. I generally sleep 4 people on the boat, and do fishing in anything around 4 foot waves. Yes, they are pretty big being as short period and steep as they are, but I've managed.
I have $40-50k to spend, and am looking for a little guidance from some people with experience in this area so I can maybe have a better chance of finding what I'm looking for.
Thanks for any help!
